Do you want to see your mother-in-law more? Holiday less? Ok, so these questions may not be top of the list, but there is a lot you two have to talk about regarding your relationship before getting married.

"The key to successful relationships isn’t necessarily agreeing on everything," says psychologist Cassandra Dunn. "Shared values are important but if you and your partner avoid arguing or always ‘agree to disagree’, problems can fester."

Dunn suggests “The most successful couples are able to raise concerns, stay away from contempt and criticism, and listen non-defensively. Emotionally re-connecting and moving on after an argument is also the sign of a relationship likely to stand the test of time.”

Here are 8 topics you should definitely broach with your partner before saying I Do:

The Past

It’s a foreign country, and you should try to take your future spouse on a guided tour. What are some your successes and failures? What gave you hope, or took it away? Does your partner know how and why you became the person you are today?

Intimacy

Relationships Australia defines intimacy as "being emotionally close to your partner"; being able to talk about how you really feel, but also being able to listen about how they feel. Can you open up, can you lean on them for support? Do they know that you love them and vice versa?

Sex

The happiest couples have sex twice a week, though this may be the result of a happy relationship, not the cause (there is no medical reason for this frequency, or any obligation to meet it). Are you both happy with your sex life? Are you prepared for this to change? Are you both happy to sleep with the same person for the rest of your lives?

It’s important to talk about sex and family expectations – before you tie the knot

Children

For a start, are you going to have children (or, you know, just one)? The 2008 Relationship Indicators Survey found that 79% of people marry to provide security for their kids. But which school? Will one of you make the significant sacrifices to raise them? Harry Potter or Hunger Games?

Family

We’re conditioned to be wary of our in-laws; the overprotective father, the meddling mother, but this doesn’t have to be you. How much time do you want to spend with your family, and theirs, after marriage? Where will you spend holidays, Sunday lunches and major events like birthdays, Easter and Christmas?

Money

Money is the leading cause of stress in relationships, (from around 35% and up to 44% in couples between the ages of 44 to 54) and the least romantic item on this list. Do either of you have debt? Will you share a bank account or a rainy-day fund? Who’s going to make sure the lights stay on and water comes out of the tap?

Beliefs

These may relate to religion (or lack there-of) but morals and values too. It’s ok to have different personalities, but having very different values is much more problematic. Are you both prepared to make a lasting commitment to the other? If one partner believes that career comes before children, that will place a great deal of stress on the marriage.

Boundaries

Honesty, forgiveness and faithfulness are all interrelated and complex. Are you honest with your partner? What would you not tell them? Do you both know the difference between keeping secrets and privacy? Will you both get the space you need or want to pursue your solo interests? Is catching up with ex-partners a deal-breaker?

Now that the easy questions are out of the way; who’s having meat or fish, and what song will you have that choreographed dance to?

If you think you need help having an open and honest dialogue with your fiancé, speaking to a marriage counsellor together might help.